Racial/ethnic disparities in preschool immunizations: United States, 1996-2001

Abstract

Objectives: We examined current racial/ethnic differences in immunization coverage rates among US preschool children.

Methods: Using National Immunization Survey data from 1996 through 2001, we compared vaccination coverage rates between non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Asian preschool children.

Results: During the 6-year study period, the immunization coverage gap between White and Black children widened by an average of 1.1% each year, and the gap between White and Hispanic children widened by an average of 0.5% each year. The gap between White and Asian children narrowed by an average of 0.8% each year.

Conclusions: Racial/ethnic disparities in preschool immunization coverage rates have increased significantly among some groups; critical improvements in identifying, understanding, and addressing race/ethnicity-specific health care differences are needed to achieve the Healthy People 2010 goal of eliminating disparities.

FIGURE 1—

4:3:1:3:3 coverage: non-Hispanic Whites vs non-Hispanic Blacks. Note. 4:3:1:3:3 = 4 or more doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and (acellular) pertussis vaccine; 3 or more doses of poliovirus vaccine; 1 or more doses of measles-containing vaccine; 3 or more doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine; and 3 or more doses of hepatitis B vaccine. Dashed lines are 95% confidence intervals for the regression line. β = 1.14; 95% CI = 0.46, 1.83; P = .01.

FIGURE 2—

4:3:1:3:3 coverage: non-Hispanic Whites vs Hispanics. Note. 4:3:1:3:3 = 4 or more doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and (acellular) pertussis vaccine; 3 or more doses of poliovirus vaccine; 1 or more doses of measles-containing vaccine; 3 or more doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine; and 3 or more doses of hepatitis B vaccine. Dashed lines are 95% confidence intervals for the regression line. β = 0.59; 95% CI = −0.36, 1.54; P = .14.

FIGURE 3—

4:3:1:3:3 coverage: non-Hispanic Whites vs Asians. Note. 4:3:1:3:3 = 4 or more doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and (acellular) pertussis vaccine; 3 or more doses of poliovirus vaccine; 1 or more doses of measles-containing vaccine; 3 or more doses of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine; and 3 or more doses of hepatitis B vaccine. Dashed lines are 95% confidence intervals for the regression line. β = −0.80; 95% CI = −1.64, 0.04; P = .06.